FOIA Requests Linger

Some agencies appear to be dragging their feet in response to requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act.

Sixteen requests for information have been pending for 16 years, and one is 20 years old, according to a survey to be released today by the National Security Archive, a research group at George Washington University. The New York Times got an advance look at the results.

The archive is one of the groups frequently requesting documents under the FOIA law, which requires documents to be released in a timely manner. Thomas Blanton, director of the archive, expressed frustration with the slow pace.

“The law is 40 years old, and we’re seeing 20 years of delay,” he told the Times.